GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Four Atlantic Coast Conference football players were selected in the first round of the 2022 National Football League Draft Thursday night in Las Vegas, headlined by No. 6 overall selection Ikem "Ickey" Ekwonu of NC State. who was taken by the Carolina Panthers. 

Ekwonu, a versatile 6-4, 320-pound offensive lineman from Charlotte, North Carolina, was the first ACC player selected sixth overall by the Carolina Panthers. The 2021 ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy award winner, Ekwonu was a unanimous first-team All-American and a first-team All-ACC performer last year. Ekwonu is NC State’s third first-round pick in the last five NFL Drafts. He is the first ACC offensive lineman taken in the top six picks since Virginia’s D’Brickashaw Ferguson was taken fourth overall in 2006. 

Boston College All-America offensive lineman Zion Johnson was taken 17th overall by the Los Angeles Chargers. Johnson was a first-team All-ACC guard in 2021 and was awarded a Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Scholarship from the ACC earlier this year. He also earned first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press and Walter Camp Football Foundation. 

Pitt’s record-setting quarterback Kenny Pickett, the 2021 ACC Player of the Year, was selected 20th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pickett goes to a franchise that plays its home games in the same stadium – Heinz Field – as his college team. Pickett was a Heisman Trophy Finalist and led the Panthers to the 2021 ACC Championship and an 11-3 overall record. He finished his career second in ACC history in passing yards (12,303), third in total offense (13,112) and sixth in passing touchdowns (81). He finished as the winningest starting quarterback in Pitt history with 32 victories.

ACC Defensive Player of the Year Jermaine Johnson II (DE) of Florida State was taken 26th overall by the New York Jets. Johnson’s selection gives the Seminoles at least one pick in 39 consecutive NFL Drafts, a streak that dates back to 1984 and is the eighth-longest streak in the country entering this year’s draft. In 2021, Johnson was a Walter Camp first-team All-American, a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award finalist and a first-team All-ACC pick. Johnson started all 12 games for the Seminoles in 2021, recording 70 tackles, 18.0 for loss with 12.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, 12 quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery. He ranked sixth nationally in sacks and eighth in tackles for loss.

Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. was taken in the second round and North Carolina offensive guard Joshua Ezeudu and Virginia tight end Jelani Woods were third round picks on Saturday.

Fourteen ACC players were taken in rounds four through seven.  

ACC Selections in the 2022 NFL Draft
Rd. – Overall Pick, Name, Position, School, NFL Team
1 – 6th, Ikem Ekwonu, OL, NC State, Carolina Panthers
1 – 17th, Zion Johnson, OL, Boston College, Los Angeles Chargers
1 – 20th, Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt, Pittsburgh Steelers
1 – 26th, Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State, New York Jets

2 – 42nd, Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson, Minnesota Vikings

3 – 67th, Joshua Ezeudu, OL, North Carolina, New York Giants
3 – 73rd, Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia, Indianapolis Colts

4 – 115th, Damarri Mathis, CB, Pitt, Denver Broncos
4 – 140th, Zach Tom, OL, Wake Forest, Green Bay Packers

5 – 144th, Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina, Washington Commanders
5 – 169th, Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina, Minnesota Vikings
5 – 173rd, Marcus McKethan, OG, North Carolina, New York Giants
5 – 177th, James Mitchell, TE, Virginia Tech, Detroit Lions

6 – 189th, Amare Barno, OLB, Virginia Tech, Carolina Panthers
6 – 209th, Luke Tenuta, OT, Virginia Tech, Buffalo Bills
6 – 214th, Ja'Sir Taylor, CB, Wake Forest, Los Angeles Chargers
6 – 215th, Lecitus Smith, OG, Virginia Tech, Arizona Cardinals

7 – 228th, Tariq Carpenter, LB, Georgia Tech, Green Bay Packers
7 – 231st, Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson, Buffalo Bills
7 – 234th, Jonathan Ford, DT, Miami, Green Bay Packers
7 – 255th, Trenton Gill, P, NC State, Chicago Bears